Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story Review

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story is the latest title published by Riot Forge, who many will recognise first as the team behind the famous MOBA, League of Legends. For those who may not know, Riot has begun a journey to tell the story of the myriad of champions they have through different styled games, and this time around, Nunu and Willump are at the front and centre through a story-rich adventure. The narrative revolves around Nunu, a young child from a tribe — called the Notai — who lost his mother during a raid and is trying to get her back. Along the way, he meets a yeti whom he names Willump, and they form an unbreakable bond of friendship and love. 

As someone who has been playing League of Legends for over a decade with my wife, it was exhilarating to see all the little nods developer Tequila Works left for us fans. From places and references to items in the background — we were both delighted looking for any easter egg we could find! That being said, however, I was elated to see that the team made sure it wasn't just a love letter to the MOBA; Song of Nunu stands on its own two feet, and you don't need to know anything about the characters or world to enjoy the experience. One of the ways they've made it accessible is through the Journal, where you'll unlock entries detailing important information you encounter throughout the experience. Thankfully, it was done in a way that isn't overwhelming: instead of paragraphs trying to explain everything and catch the player up to the enormous ocean of lore, each entry keeps it short and sweet, explaining only the important details that help you retain information. As someone who usually has a big problem with this sort of feature because I struggle to maintain interest when having to read too much (ironic, being a journalist), I really liked the way it was handled.

Going into Song of Nunu, I wasn't quite sure what to expect because the stories you find from the champions in League of Legends are often brutal and emotional, yet all I had heard was that the game is wholesome and cute. While it's true that the narrative isn't without its dark moments and painful details, I wouldn't say it's any worse than most story-driven titles, and for an overwhelming part of my experience, I was absolutely delighted! It has been a very long time since I have felt such a deep connection with the protagonists of a story the way I did with Nunu and Willump — both characters are absolutely fantastic. It's hard to imagine this is a setting and cast that Tequila Works took from another universe and made their own, as there’s so much evident love, passion, and effort put into the project through the relationship and character-building of the protagonists.

It's safe to say that Song of Nunu has one of the best portrayals of deuteragonists I've seen in gaming, as Willump actively interacts with the environment and with Nunu throughout the whole game. Whether he's making a snowman or celebrating successes with a high-five, the way he explores and reacts makes him and the world come alive. This is further strengthened by the constant back-and-forth between the two; in fact, despite the yeti's lack of words, every conversation between the pair feels deep and meaningful, and I was absolutely flabbergasted at how well it worked. 

Throughout the game, aside from unravelling the story and seeing the two bond, you'll solve simple puzzles using teamwork. These come in a variety of styles, from using Nunu's flute to activate the environment to throwing snowballs and creating a chain reaction. None of them were overly complex, and I didn't find myself ever stuck or frustrated. That being said, I do feel like the gameplay falls a bit short in comparison to the characters and setting: although I don't mind simple titles, some of the puzzles and sequences became repetitive. At times, particularly the deeper into the story I reached, it felt like gameplay-heavy sections were being added just to have the player do anything at all. I wish Tequila Works had more confidence in their characters, dialogue, and story, as they did such a great job with them that I wouldn't have minded trading in player-controlled sections for more cinematic moments. Even just more conversation between the two while exploring for collectibles would’ve enrichened the experience; if anything, the forced sections just detracted from the experience as I was itching to unravel more of what would happen next.

Near the end of the experience, I found myself being frustrated by the gameplay elements, as they felt unnecessary and elongated. From a lengthy stealth section that feels out of place to horrible checkpoints paired with (sometimes) clunky platforming, there were times I just wanted the narrative to continue so I could witness the end. Where Tequila Works excelled in making a narrative adventure, they sometimes failed at making the gameplay engaging or enjoyable enough to warrant the breaks between story; at its worst, this made the adventure feel like a needless fetch quest. Despite all that, however, every time the game would pick up, I would become enamoured with it once again — there are really no words to describe how charming and lovable both Nunu and Willump are! The dialogue is humorous, the animation of their expressions is top-notch, and the music alluring.

Regardless of the few hiccups along the way, I’m very happy with the game. I'm really touched and grateful for the love and effort Tequila Works put into making Song of Nunu, and it'll always have a place in my heart because it brought so much life and colour to one of the most overlooked champions in League of Legends. Whether you already know about Runeterra and its cast or not, there is a lot to love in this game.